Park City edges rival Wasatch

HEBER CITY — Friday was supposed to be Park City goalkeeper Rock Christeson's day.

The reigning 3A MVP, who signed with Iowa Western earlier this week, needed just one more shutout to break the state record for career shutouts.

After an early goal put Park City ahead of its rival Wasatch on Friday, it looked as though Christeson was on the verge of breaking the prestigious mark. Wasatch converted a penalty kick in the dying minutes of the match, however, to delay Christeson's moment until at least next week.

In the end, however, that fact didn't matter to Park City's 'keeper.

After Wasatch equalized, the Miners regrouped and scored the winning goal in the 87th minute to defeat their rivals 2-1 and pick up a valuable away victory.

"It's all about wins and losses," said Christeson. "... I just want to win. Eventually I'll get (the record)."

Because he conceded a goal against the Wasps, Christeson still remains tied with Alta's John Ragsdale at 22. Ragsdale kept goal for the Hawks from 1988 to 1990.

In overtime, Park City's Nick Gunderson played a perfectly weighted long ball toward Ryan Williams, who was placed near the 18-yard box on the left side. Williams took the pass, saw the goalkeeper coming off his line, and put his shot past the 'keeper at the far post.

"I was excited to see myself all alone," said Williams.

Though they rarely created chances in the first half, Park City only needed four minutes to open the scoring through Ryan Simons. After the Miners sent a corner kick into the box, Wasatch's 'keeper came to collect the cross, but he misjudged the ball.

Simons took advantage of that situation, sending a deflected shot into the net.

However, Park City's early goal was their only clear-cut scoring chance during the first half, and coach Mike Guetschow said he was disappointed that his team didn't ratchet-up the pressure until Wasatch scored its equalizer.

"It took giving a goal back to wake them up," said Guetschow.

Wasatch netted their goal in the 74th minute when the referee awarded a penalty kick for the Wasps. Captain Corban Remund calmly beat Christeson to the goalkeeper's right to level the scoreline.

Dating back to last season, Park City's 2-1 win was the second-straight time that the Miners have beaten their Region 10 rivals by one goal.

"I'm tired of losing by one goal to Park City," said Wasatch coach Dawain Wheatley, who added that Friday's match was the Wasps' best performance to date.

Meanwhile, Park City stays tied with Judge atop the Region 10 standings. Both teams collected the maximum six points in the opening week.

"To win (at Wasatch)," said Guetschow, "that sets the whole season up and puts us in a good position."

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